Electrical plug



April 8 1924.

O. C. GILBERT ELECTRICAL PLUG 17 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March atten/w11 April 8 1924.

O. C. GILBERT ELECTRICAL PLUG Filed March 17 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mucn/Coz- Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER GILBERT, 01.**i ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, .ASSIGNOB T GEQRGE EVANS WALKER,

0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRICAL PLUG.

Application tiled March 17, 1923. Serial No. 825,878.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OLIVER C. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in f Electrical Plugs, of which the following is a specification. K

This invention relates to improvements in electrical devices `for use inr connection with wireless telephony. l

The object ofthe invention is to provde a plug for changingothe circuits to the head sets or ear phones of a wireless outfit.

One of the particular objects 'is to provide` l5 a device, whereby the double head sets may be connected in series or in parallel as oftentimes the clearness of the received message depends uponfthe connections that is to say,

:whether in series or arallel. Heretofore it has een the common practice to make these different changes, lor connections, by disassembling the plug devices orwreassembling the connections. In the present invention these changes of the circuits are quicklvmade by simply rotating one member of t e. plug relative to the other. Broadly it comprises a hand ieee in which is threaded a plug device. T is hand piece receives the ends of the terminals of s0 the cables and to the threaded plug device is connected the metallic terminals or pin points of the cables, and a second or rotatable piece mounted on 4the threaded plug device, whereb connections are changed in the head pieces from series to paralleler vice versa or open as will be d fully described. Referring to the drawings: l

f sembled plug showing the handle or casing member, the plug threaded into the casing and the rotatable member connected thereto. Fig, 2 isf aldetail lof one terminal ofthe plug and which serves to secure the parts to et er. l g Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pin and the tubular casing `in which the pin is located and serves as the other terminal, these parts 50, represent the two poles.

when the rotatable piece isv '35 moved into di erent positions the electrical Fig. 1 is an lelevational view' of the as-` Fig. tis a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 showing the interior structure of the casing and lllustrating the four cables therein.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bushing in the rotatable member.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the threaded plug device on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8 showing one of the tubular insert piecesand one of the s ring actuated lungers.

Fi is a detail k`v1ew of the rotatable mem er separated from the plug part.

Figi 8 is a detail view of the inner end of the threaded plug device showing the ends of the bushings into which the terminals o the cables are inserted.

K Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the opposite end of Fig. 8. v l,

Fig. 10 1s a bottom plan view ofthe rotatable vmember showing the kidney bean shaped metallic ycontacts embedded in the insulating material.

Fig. 11 is an outer end view and side elevational view respectively"A of the rotatable member.

Fig. 12 is Aan inner end view of the rotatable circuit changing member. ,l Fig. `13 is a sideelevational view of the removable lug f device and the rotatable member asseln led and in the position which shows the connectios in Fig. 18.

ig. 14 1s a detail sectional view of the plug` device 'which receives the pin point contacts of the cables also showing the embedded electrical connection between, `the centrally located threaded bushing of'A the plug device and atubular member toA which one of the cableslis connected.

Fig. 15Y is an enlarged detail Viewv of one of the cables and oneof the conical shaped springs llocated in one of the bushin s. Fig. 16 shows the arrangement of 5i cuits when the double head sets are arranged in series.

Fig. 17 shows the connection when the rotatable art connects one of the double head sets and) a loud speaking telephone in parallel.

Fig. 18 shows l one of the head sets is in use.

the connections; when only v Fig. 19 shows the connections when the loud speaking telephone is in use and the double head set is cut out or idle.

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification in which the threaded sleeve is omitted, and the internally located bushing of insulation on the connecting rod.

d lig 21 is a detail top view of the rotatable Fig. 22 is a bottom plan view of the rotatable disk showing the kidney bean shaped contact pieces, and the locking depression in one ot the pieces.

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the rotatable disk with part broken away substantially on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 24 is a bottom plan View of the plug. Fig. 25 is a sectional view on the line 25-25 of Figs. 24 and 26 and Fig. 26 is a top plan view of the threaded plug.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the handle portion of the complete plug which is formed With an opening to receive 'the threaded bushing member 2 and through which the cables, four of Which are shown, pass as indicated by the numerals 8, 4, 5 and 6. Each of these cables is termed with the usual Woven Wire core indicated at 7 and connected to the Woven Wirecore are the metallic terminal tips or points 8, one of which is shown. The opposite end of the handle member 1 is formed with an internally threaded end part 9 for receiving the threaded plug device or member 10 which is also composed or' some suitable insulating material. `Located Within this plug member are the 'four metallic tubular members 11, 12 13 and 14, an enlarged detail ot one being shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 6 shows also the tubular member 14 in section. rl`he inner ends of these tubular members project beyond the inner end 15 of the plug member 10 and each of them are termed with an opening 16 through which passes one of the metallic terminals 8 of the different cables. These metallic terminals are slightly tapered and engage the inner surfaces of the coils or the conical shaped spring 17, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 15. The diameters of the inner ends of these coils is larger than the outer ends, as shown, whereby the tapered metallic terminal 8 will form perfect electrical connection. The coils of the springs 17 are, normally under compression, their outer ends engage the cylindrical pins /or plungers 18, four of which are employed as shown in Fig. 13.

It will be observed that the tubular shaped members 11, 12, 13 and 14 are each formed With a ledge orangular surface 11', 12', 13' and 14 against which the springs 17 bear, the surface 14' being clearly shown in Fig. 15. The springs serve to force the'plungers or Contact pieces 18 normally outward. The

contact pieces '18, while being shown as spring pressedplungers, may consist of an I equivalent type of contact members, an in the present showing are shown as being four in number, are positioned on an arc respectively, and points substantially 72 apart, there being 144 remaining to complete the circle. While this arrangement of contactmembers is shown in this embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the invention is not contined to this arrangement because other arrangements may be made to produce substantially the same results, and to affect additional combinations or circuits.

Located in the centrally arranged opening 19 of the threaded plug member 10 is the internally threaded bushing o: sleeve 20.

rlhis bushing is formed with an extension portion 20' which is electrically connected to the tubular member 14, see Fig. 14.

21 is a member composed of insulating material that is rotatably mounted on the plug member 10. The upper or outer end of the member 21 is shown at the left of Fig. 11

.and the inner end of this member is shown in Figs. 10 and 12, which is provided with two insert contact plates 22 and 23 which are enga-ged by the plungers 18. rllhe angular distance or extent or' plates 22 and 23 is 72 Which is also the angular distance, or spac ing, of the plungers 18, as indicated in Figs. 9, 16, 17, 18 and i9. The plates 22 and 23 are spaced apart between one of their ends approximately 72 and between the other ends approximately 144. 23' designates a depression in the plate 23 which receives the end of one ofi the plungers 18 when the rotatable member 21 is turned about the axis.

Located on the plug member 10 is an index mark 24, and located on the edge of the rotatable member 21 are the letters P (parallel) S (series), and the numerals 1 and 2, the numeral 1 referring to the plug when connections are made to tivo double head sets, or to one double head set and a a loud speaking phone, the other being idle. This connection is shown in Fig. 18, the number 2 connection is shown in Fig. 19. Referring novi7 to the means orsecuring the parts together, 25 designates a tubular member which is formed with a reduced portion 25' which is threaded at 26. The threaded part engages the threads of the sleeve 20. p

27 designates a sleeve (see Fig. 5) which is placed in the part 21 and receives the reduced part 25 of Ithe member 25. 28 (see Fig. 2) is a pin which is formed with a knob or spherical end 29, and a shoulder 29 and a threaded end 30. The pin 28 when assembled passes through the tubular member 25, its shoulder portion 29 engages .a ring piece of insulation 31, and its inner end passes through a ring or sleeve of -inllO sulation 32, and these twopi'in insulate the` pin 28 from the sleeve 25. he threads 30 of the pin 2 8 engage the threads 32 of the plate -33 y(see Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 14) and serve toI make electrical ,connection therewith and with one of the tubular members in'which the conical springs 17 are placed.

y VThe threadsf26 of the sleeve 25 serve to re`- `tain the parts 'and 21 together and to permit the part 21 to turn on the'sleeve'27. 34 designates a ring for securing the end of the cable thereto 1in the 4usualinanner to prevent the cable from being drawn away from the plug.

Referrin now tothe operation of the, devicew-loo ing at..Fig. 16 the part 21 is l rotated vso that the letter S thereon registhe ot er terminal.

I haveprovided a telephone ters with the'reference line/24 on the fixed part 10, the current is then in series with the two head sets 35 and 36` as shown, 'it

. enters by the knob 2910i the pin 28, to plate 33, through the plate to the cylindrical member 14, lunger 18, plate 23,-cab1e,3,`phones 35, cab e 4, plate 22, cable 5, phones 36, cable 6, lunger 18 to the sleeve 25 which is When the art. 21fis turned through 72 so'that the etter P is opposite the reference line 24 (see Fig.

. 17) the head set 35 and vloud speakin phone 37 are in parallel connection throng lthe cables 3, 4, 5 and 6. When'the part21 is turned l that the lnumeral `1 re isters with the reference line 24 (see Fig. 18 yonly one head set is then connected, the other be-. ying idle.

l apparatus for the purposes-fof eectln a connection between one circuit and anot er circuit and thereby ,permitting the selective coupling of circuits.

In particular, this invention relates to an improvement in such circuit connecting plugs; all former constructions having to do solely with the connecting or disconnectv ing of` fixed circuits wherein the 'circuit wires areattached to theplug terminals in such manner that only one athis open to theI current or currentsl dea t with.

In my invention there is incorporated `with `and within the plug an arrangement of switches, whereby the same plu may be used as a means of controlling 51e various circuits towhich it may be connected.

`As an illustration of a use of my invention there may be cited the application to radio telephone head sets wherein hereto fore it has been impossible to readily'change the circuit from series to parallel when one ,head set is`lused, or to accomplish the same object with more than one head set without the use of a specially wired series of jacks and in the former case it could only be accomplished by the use of two head set cords and necessitated the changing of the terminal wires whenever it was desired to change f the circuit from seriesito parallel or from parallel to series. In my invention it is required only that the switch within the plu .be thrown to change from series to paralle or from arallel to series.

Referrlng to the modification shown in Figs. 20-to 26.

The part 10 is provided with a plate 40 which is located in the groove or depression 41, the groove being of such depth that the plate 40 does not come out flush with the surface 42 ofthe art 10; by having the plate 40 ofless thic the groove 41, a ridge or edge 43 is rovided which serves as `a centering rim or accu-v rately locatin the inner end 44 of the` sleeve 27 on w ich the part 21 turns.

The threaded sleeve 20 shown in Fi 6 is omitted in this modification. In or er to secure the rotatable part 21 to the plug part l10 the threaded part 30 on the end of the rod 28 engages the threads of the plate 33,

as before. The plate 40 therefore serves as an electrical 'connection between the tubular sleeve 27 and the tube25. The plate 4() is connected to one of the tubular vmembers as 11 (see Fig. 26). The o ening 45 through the insulating material o the part 10 is smaller than the opening 40 in the essthan the depth of.k

plate 40 whereby the rod 28 is insulated or spaced from the late 40 as shown inthe assembled sectiona view in Fi 20.

The late 33 at the inner en of the part ormed with a struck-up having an opening 46 to receive theloose end of the cable` in vthe usual way. Y This l struck up part is for the same purpose as the part 34'sl1own in'Fig. 8. yThe plate 33 also provides an electrical connection with one ofthe tubular members as 14.

l An important feature of the modification shown in Fi 20 to 26 is that the adjacent surfaces of t e parts 10 and 21 are beveled as indicated at 10 and 21', whereby the reference o'r locating numerals 1 and 2 and the letters P and S can be readilyl seen by the user of the plug, also'the outer end of the art 21 is beveled as indicated at 212 wherey. the numerals 1 and 2 and the letters P and S can be readily seen by the user. The electrical connections described above and portion 46V s shown in Figs. 16, 17, 18y and 19 are the same of electric circuits may be electrically attached and includin a plug extending therefrom, and movab e means on the device electrically interposed between the plu and said circuits for changing the electrica connections from series to parallel, or vice versa.

2. A plug device comprising a body to which a plurality of conductors may be electrically attached, and including a plug extending therefrom, a rotatable switch member on the plug electrically interposed be-` circuits, or vice versa.

4. In a jack plug, a body insertable into a jack and having means thereon to which a plurality of circuit conductors may be attached certain of said circuit conductors being electrically connected with the plu aV rotatable switch member on the plug e ectrically interposed between the plug and said conductors, and means on said member engageable with said conductors for establishing and changingathe electrical connections between said conductors from series to parallel, or to eliminate any of said circuits, or vice versa. s 5. In a jack plug. a body having a plu fast thereto, and means to which a plura ity of circuit conductors may be attached,

.contact members electrically associated with said means,` a movable switch member on the plug electrically interposed between the plug and said contact members and engageable with the latter, and means on said switch member coo rati with`the.con-

tacts for changing e ectrica connections between said contacts and said lug from series to parallel, or openany o said circuits, or vice versa.

6. A plug for the urpose described, comprising an electric p ug connector, a plurality of spring pressed lungers mounted on said plug, means for e ectrically connecting said plungers with conductors, a part rotatably connected to the lu and having contact lates thereon and) o? a length to s an the p ungers, the arrangement of the p ungers and plates being such that when the rotatable part is turned the connections to the conductors may be changed from series to parallel or vice versa, or one of the circuits opened.

7. A combined switch and plug device for the purpose described, comprising a plug having electrical conducting parts, a plurality of terminals on the plug for electrical connection with conductors, at least two of said terminals being electrically connected to the plug to complete a circuit therethrou h, a member rotatably connected to said p ug, contact means on the member for making selective electrical connections with the terminals, said contact means and terminals being so constructed and arran ed that a plurality of circuits may be se ectively available or may be combined, when the member is rotated, to form a series or parallel connection of the conductors.

8. A combined connector plug and switch device, 'comprising a handle portion, a plug having electrical conducting parts, a plurality of tubular members on the handle and formed with one end partially closed to form a shoulder, s rings in said members and retained by said fshoulders, lun rs engaged by the springs,'said partia ly c osed ends of the tubular members bein adapted to receive the terminals of te ephone cords, a switch member rotatably connected to the said device, and contact plates on the switch to selectively engage t e vvspiing actuated plungers, the? connecting .means between the switch member and said plug forming the electrical terminals ofy the device.

9. In a combined lu and switch device, a ixedxpart, termina t erein to receive the ends of a plurality of conductors, a art rotatably connected to the fixed Iart, t e connecting meanscom rising a tu ular member having an electrica connection with the one of said terminals, a pin member passing throu h the tubular member and having a threaded connection with another of the terminals and insulated fromthe tubular member, the rotatable parti-having contact lates normal] in electrical connection wit the termina s of the fixed art, said plates serving to connect the con uctor terminals with re a tion to each other as series, or paralleler open circuits, when the rotatable member is moved.

10. A combined plug and switch device, includin ma fixed anda rotatable member, thelixe member having means to receive and retain the conductor terminals 'and having yieldable contacts thereon spaced at greater and lesser distances apart, the rotatable member having means for forming electrical connection with the contacts of the plug, said contact means being ada ted to span the space between certain of t e contacts on the plug of lesser distanceapart, whereby when the rotatable member is turned `the connection may be chan ed.

11. In a combined plu and switc device, for the purpose descri apart having means for attaching the ends of the con- 1,4oo,oos

ductors thereto, movable contact members on said part in electrical connection with the conductor attaching devices and normally projecting beyond the end of the same, a connector plug extending from said attaching part in 4electrical connection with at least two of said contacts, a member rotatably mounted on said pl contact plates on the rotatable member an engaging the movable contact devices, the construction and arrangement of the movable contact devices and plates being such that when the rotatable member is turned in either direction the connections may be changed, and means for designating thediilferent positions of the rotatable member.

12. A switch and plug, comprising a member to which a plurality of conductors may be attached, a lurality of spring ressed plungers on saidl member arranged a ut an arc and spaced from' each other and adapted to have said conductors electrically connected thereto respectively, a tubular member, a'switch element rotatable on the latter, one end of said tubular member being positioned at the radial center of said arc and e having electrical connection with one of said plungers, a rod passing through said tube and insulated therefrom, said rod having an enlarged end engagin the other end of said tube and its inner en in electrical connection with another of said plun rs, and contacts o n said switch selective y engageable with said plungers. v

13. In a telephone plug construction, the

combination of a cable attaching part havingl a recessed portion, a plate located on the recessed portion of the part, and a tube havingeone end engaging the plate to provide a aring for a rotatable member, the plate being below the surface of the part whereby the recessed portion provides a centering edge for the tube.

14. In a jack lug construction, the combination of a ca le attaching part having a recessed portion, a plate located in the lrecessed portion of the part, a tube engaging the late for providin a bearing for a rotatable member, the late being below the surface of the part w ereby the recess provides a centerlng edge for the tube, said member having devices thereon for changin electrical connections, and terminals in sai part for engagiin the devices.

15. In a ]ac p ug construction, the combination of a conductor-attaching part, a member rotatably connected to the part, means for connecting the same together including a plate on the part, a tube engagin one face of said part, and a threaded ro passing throu h the tube and insulated therefrom, said ro having an enlar d outer end engaging the other end of sai tube and its other end connected to said plate.

16. In a 'ack plu construction, a part adapted to ave a gurality of conductors electrically connecte thereto, a member rotatably connected to the part, and means for connecting the same together including 'a tube enga ing one face of said art, a rod passing t rough the tube an insulated therefrom, said rod having one end enga the tube and its other end secured to sai part, the tube and rod serving to provide a plug havin electrical connection with at east two org said conductors, and means between said part and rotatable member for the electrical connections between changln the con uctors.

` OLIVER C. GILBERT. 

